Mail-box.



G. H. HOLTON.

MAIL BOX.

' APPLICATION TILED MAY 8, 1909.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

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CHARLES H. HOLTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

Application filed May 8, 1909. Serial No. 494,754.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. HoL'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of mail boxes in which mail matter may be readily deposited for collection.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved box which is of a simple and consequently cheap construction but at the same time substantial.

Another object is to provide an improved construction of box whereby mail matter may be readily deposited therein with one hand and the receiving opening of which will be protected to prevent the entrance of water.

A further object is to provide an improved box which will enable the mail to be discharged upon the opening thereof by the collector, and another object is to improve the construction of box whereby the bottom and one vertical wall thereof may be coupled so as to operate in unison during the opening and closing operations.

ith these and other objects in view the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,-

Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section through a closed box embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the same,the section being taken on a line at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a vertical cross-section similar to Fig. 1, but showing the bottom and front wall tilted to the open position to discharge the mail, and Fig. 4, is a horizontal cross-section through the closed box,the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral, 1, designates the rear wall; 2, the opposite parallel side wallsand, 3, the top of the box. These walls and the top may be constructed and secured together in any suitable manner but in the present instance I have illus trated the side and rear walls as formed of an integral piece of metal having a rectangular shape in cross-section. At or adjacent to the lower or bottom edges, the rear and side walls, 1, and, 2, are provided with inturned horizontal flanges, 1, and, 5, respectively,

these flanges, in the present instance, being formed by turning the lower edge of said walls upwardly to form a bottom fold, 6, and then bending or turning said folded portions laterally, as clearly seen 1n Figs. 1 and 2.

The side walls, 2, sustain vertical plates, 7, having a lateral flange, 8, extending outwardly at the uppermost curved edge. These plates have upwardly inturned bottom or lower edges, 9, which are secured by bolts or rivets, 10, to the side walls, and by means of this construction a weather-proof joint is made between said walls and plates.

The top, 3, has an arched formation and is provided with inturned hooks or flanges, 11, at its opposite curved ends which project beneath and engage the out-turned flanges, 8, on the vertical side plates, 7 as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The lowermost rear edge of the arched top is also provided with an up-turned flange, 12, which is secured by bolts or rivets, 13, along the rear wall, 1. At the front side, the top is cut away between the side plates, 7 and has a plate, 14, which inclines upwardly from the front of the box and which connects with a slotted plate, 15, which extends at right angles thereto and between the latter and the arched portion of the top. A flap, 16, is pivotally sustained at or adjacent to the upper horizontal edge of the slotted plate, 15, and hangs pendently in the slot. This flap has such a formation and shape as will permit its lower projecting portion, 17, to extend on the outer side of the slot while its extreme lower edge, 18, turns downwardly at the inner side of said slot to com pletely close the latter. In the present instance I have provided an extension or guard plate, 19, within the box and below the flap to prevent the insertion of a wire or tool in a direct straight line toward the bottom.

The front wall, 20, of the box is mounted on a rod, 21, at its upper end so as to hang pendently therefrom and said wall is provided with rearwardly-extending vertical flanges, 22, which projectv parallel with and at the outer side of the side walls, 2. This front wall is also provided at points between the side walls with guard plates, 23, which extend rearwardly at the inner side of the side walls, 2. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the side walls, 2, 0f the box have their front vertical edges proj ected between the flanges, 22, and the guard plates, 23, of the pendent front wall and thus a secure and tight joint is produced j between said front and side walls. The lower edge of the front wall is provided with an Lip-turned flange or support, 24:, which, when the box is closed, lies in a plane below the flanges, 5, on the side walls. A look, 25, is also secured to the front wall above the flange or support, 24, and operates in a manner to secure the front wall closed as will presently be more fully described.

The bottom, 26, of the box is pivotally mounted on a rod, 27, just beneath the flange, 4, of the rear wall, 1, and the front end of said bottom is thereby capable of swinging up and down. A slot, 28, is provided in the bottom at its front edge into which the bolt, 29, of the lock, 25, may project when the box is closed, as seen in Fig. 1.

In order to cause a simultaneous movement of the front wall and bottom I havev provided rods, 30, which connect the two. These rods in the present instance have their lower ends engaged with the bottom and their upper ends are connected to coiled springs,, 31, which latter are attached tothe guard plates, 23. .The length ofthe rods, 30, is such that the bottom will be swung up beneath the flanges, 5, as the front wall is moved in toward the side walls and before said front wall is back in place. The

springs, 31, will then stretcht-o enable thefront wall to make its further movement. During this latter or further movement of the front wall, theup-turned flange or support, 24, will project beneath the front edge ,of the bottom and will serve to support the latter. When in this position the lock, 25, will haveposition directly over the bottom and the bolt, 29, thereof may be pro jected down into the slot, 28, and thus lock the front wall in the closed position.

By reference to 8, it will be seen that I upon swinging the front wall outwardly the bottom will be tilted downwardly and by simply holding a mail pouch orreceptacle in proper'place the contents of the bag will be'diseharged into the pouch.

It will be seen .that as the bottom and front wall are connected so as to be moved simultaneously it will require but one hand to close the box. By pushing the front wall inwardly itwill cause the bottom to raise V and the latter reaches its closed position first so that the front wall can lock it in place.

Having thus described my invention what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is, w

o the pivotally mounted wall and bottom;

' and a top covering the body.

1. A mail box comprising a body having rear, slde and front walls and one'of sald walls being pivotally mounted, and the box also having a pivotally mounted bottom which is normally engaged by the pivoted wall to hold the same closed, a top covering the body,

2. A mail boX comprising a body having rear, side and front walls and one of said, walls being mounted so as to swing out wardly and having a support adjacent toits lower edge; a bottom pivotally m'ounted and a yielding connection between T with respect to thebody normally sustained by the support on the swinging wall;

a top covering the body; a lockon the swing ing wall for engaging the bottom, and means connecting the swinging wall and bottom.

' 3. A mail box'comprising a body having rear, side and front walls and one'ofv said 7 walls hanging pendently from its'upper end, a bottom having one ,edge pivotally sustained with respect to the body, a rod di rectly connecting the bottom and the pendout Wall, means on the pendent wall' for supporting the free end of the bottom and a stationarytop covering the body and having a receivmg opening. 4. A mail box comprising a stationary rear and side walls, a movable front wall having flangesto project on the outer side of the side walls, guard plates secured to the movable wallat the inner side connecting the bottom. and movable wall:

5. A mail box comprising a body'having stationary rear and side walls, a-top covering said walls and having opening, a front wall pivotally sustained fromv its upper end below the top and hanging pendently therefrom, adjacent the rear wall'and extending toward thelower end of the pivoted wall; means on the lower end of the tain the free end of the connecting the upper end of the rod and the of the side walls, a pivoted bottom, a rod f a receiving pivoted wall to su'sbottom, a rod con- 'nected to the pivoted bottom, a spring movable front wall and a lock on the front -l wall for engaging the free end of the pivotedbottom. V In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V CHARLES H. HOLTON. l/Vitnesses:

R. W. FLEu ING," S. HOOTON. V 

